Model construction panel assembly



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IM B A. R. SODERGREN MODEL CONSTRUCTION PANEL ASSEMBLY F/G 2M z Jan. 3,1967 Filed sept. 25, 1964 United States Patent Oiice 3,295,225 PatentedJain. 3, 1967 3,295,225 MODEL CONSTRUCTION PANEL ASSEMBLY Albin R.Sodergren, 42 Waterside Lane, Clinton, Conn. 06413 Filed Sept. 23, 1964,Ser. No. 398,594 6 Claims. (Cl. 35-16) This invention relates to :amodel construction panel assembly which may be used to givethree-dimensional representation to the floor-plan layout of residentialbuildings and the like. More particularly, the present invention isdesigned and conceived to afford facility of erection and assembly inthe presentation of scale model homes and similar buildings.

Frequently, it is desirable for real estate developers, architects, orconstruction contractors to be able to present to prospective purchasersa three-dimensional scalar representation of a proposed building forevaluation of its adequacy for its intended purpose and as an actualexample for the discussion and consideration of proposed changes or:alternative arrangements. Particularly with the rapid expansion ofsuburban living and the population movement out of urban areas in theUnited States, it is important that home purchasers and prospective homepurchasers have available to them a threedimensional scalar model toassess the Isuitability and desirability of a proposed plan layout asrelated to their individual needs. Architectural scale models have longbeen used to present designs to prospective home owners. While sucharchitectural scale models are usually well executed and make arealistic representation, they are frequently limited in the extent andkind of change and rearrangement which they afford. Additionally,architectural scale models are generally quite expensive and are notreadily adaptable to being disassembled into basic elements which can bere-used indenitely to construct other designs of buildings.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a modelconstruction panel assembly which is inexpensive in cost and is readilyadaptable to assembly in a very broad variety of designs and forms.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide :a modelconstruction assembly of panels of like configuration which may bequickly assembled and disassembled.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a modelassembly which, in addition to satisfying the above-stated objectives,presents a realistic, scalar representation including doorways, windows,closets and other such desirable construction details in a form whichImay be readily rearranged, changed or enlarged as desired.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be more fully appreciated from the disclosure anddescription of the embodiments of the present invention which follows,together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a perspective view of several panels assembled to representpart of the wall section of a building;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of the partial wall of FIGURE 1 takenthrough section 22;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional View of one type of panel which may lbeused in the assembly of the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative type of panel whichmay be used in an assembly of the present invention;

FIGURE 5 is a top elevational view of a clip means which may be used toconnect abutting panels in the assembly of the present invention;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of the clip means illustrated inFIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a typical embodiment of the presentinvention in a model construction panel assembly of a small residentialbuilding.

The concept of the present invention includes a plurality of hollow,generally rectangular panels having two pairs of opposed side walls,each pair comprising side walls of identical dimensions. The pairs ofside walls may be secured in spaced parallel `relationship or may be anintegral, extruded section of suitable material such as a light gaugemetal or synthetic plastic, for instance. The panels have at least onedimension which is common to all panels which is usually the smallerdimension of the two dimensions defining the rectangular crosssection.This common dimension permits the attachment of a plurality of suchpanels by clip means securing the commonly dimensioned side Walls infrictional abutment to form the wall sections of a building, forexample. The remaining side walls are preferably paired in identicalsizes which vary from one panel to another so that wall sections,windows, doorways, and other construc- -tional details may be includedin the assembly in any desired size by appropriate combination of panelsof different lengths and heights. The panels preferably are of asemi-rigid synthetic plastic material which will permit their being cutacross their cross-section to any desired height a required. The panelsare assembled by -clipimembers of resilient material, such as lightmetal or plastic, which slidingly engage contiguous side walls to holdthem in frictional abutment. In a typical model assembly of the presentinvention,such clip members will always engage at least one of the twoside walls of each panel which has a dimension common to a pair of sidewalls of other panels.

Referring to FIGURE l, there is shown in perspective a partial wallstructure of a scalar model assembly including the representation -of awindow. A plurality of panels 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 comprising pairsof opposed side walls 10a and 10b, 11a and 11b, 12a and 12b, 13a and13b, 14a and 14h, and 15a and 15b are secured in spaced parallelrelationship by second pairs of opposed side walls all of which have thesame crosssectional width. This permits the inserti-on of clip members16, 17, 18 and 19 to secure the contiguous panels in frictionalengagement giving the assembly the appearance of a typical fiat wallsurface of residential construction.

As will be seen in the cross-sectional view of FIGURE 2 the panels 13and 15 have opposed side walls 13a and 13b, and 15a and 15b which havedifferent panel lengths than the opposed side walls 14a and 14b, and 10aand 10b of panels 14 and 10. This feature affords the convenience ofassembling panels in varying arrangements to provide the desired size ofwindows, doorways, closets, and connected wall sections in accordancewith any floor plan layout of a residential home `or other typebuilding. The panels 1t), 14, 15 and 13 as shown in the crosssectionalview of FIGURE 2 have remaining pairs of opposed side walls which allhave a common dimension where the resilient clip members of the assemblyof the present invention are employed to join contiguous panels infrictional engagement in any desired configuration of model assembly.

FIGURE 3 illustrates a single panel cross-section cornprising pairs ofopposed side walls 20a and 2Gb, and 21a and 2lb, each pair of side wallsbeing of identical dimensions. The side walls 21a and 2lb each haveright-angular flanges 21e and 21d extending from their side Wallportions in a generally U-shaped conliguration, which flanges aresecured by suitable means such as cementing or thermal bonding to theother pair of opposed side walls 20a and 20h.

FIGURE 4 shows an alternative type of panel which may be used in theassembly of the present invention. The panel of FIGURE 4, it will benoted, has two pairs of opposed side walls 22a and 22k, and 23a and 23bsecured in spaced parallel relationship by reason of the integralconstruction of the panel which typically may be extruded syntheticplastic preferably of a semi-rigid type.

FIGURES and 6 are top and side elevational views respectively, of a clipmember 24 which may be employed in the assembly of the presentinvention. The clip 24 has a Hat base portion 25 and a bent over upperportion 26 to form a generally U-shaped configuration and is ofappropriate width to conveniently engage the smaller dimensions ofcontiguous side walls of the panels by sliding the clip member overcontiguous side walls to secure them in frictional engagement in anydesired arrangement.

FIGURE 7 shows a model construction panel assembly of the presentinvention in a perspectively viewed form iof small residence 30.Included are the interior and exterior walls of the building, windows,doorways, closets, garage, etc. The manner in which different sizepanels may be readily combined to provide a desired result may be seentypically by comparing the different sizes of windoWs produced bycombining panels 31 and 32 as contrasted to the larger combined panels33 and 34. All the panels 31, 32, 33 and 34 are, however, of the sameheight to provide windows at the same wall level in a common wall whichis usually the case in residential design. The panels 35 and 36 abovethe window are of the same combined over-all dimension as panels 31 and32 below the same window and are of a suitable height to provide aconventional window opening to proper scale. A plurality of panels 37,38, 39 and 40 are secured in contiguous relationship Iby clip means inaccordance with the concept of the present invention to provide thepartial Wall section over a garage door opening. The

i manner in which a plurality of panels of varied sizes may be combinedin accordance with the teaching of the present invention is illustratedby the contiguous sections 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 and 46 which form akitchen wall including a window placed as desired and in scaledproportions.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the assembly of thepresent invention comprises inexpensive elements which are readilyadaptable to produce a very broad variety of scalar construction modelswhich, when they have served their useful purpose, may be disassembledquickly for further use in different form and combination of assembly asdesired.

The panels of the present invention may be of appropriate scale such asone-quarter or one-eighth scale for residential model assembly whichwould include panels of approximately one-half inch and one-quarter inchwidths, respectively, to represent conventional frame construction ofnominally two inch x four inch studding with appropriate sheathing.

Similarly, the panels of the present invention may be preferably scaledto represent the sixteen inches between centers of studs which isconventionally employed in much frame housing as required lby manybuilding codes. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, panelshaving widths which are scalar incremental multiples of sixteen incheson centers frame construction, as Well as one-half and one quarter widepanels representing sixteen inches on centers frame construction arepreferably included among the elements comprising a kit for erectingconstruction model assemblies in accordance with the concept and spiritof the present invention. Panels should, of course, be of a Variety ofheights as Well as lengths to aiiord the construction of scalar wallsrepresenting appropriate heighths such as eight feet for homes, forinstance, and windows approximately twenty-four to thirty inches fromfloor level.

As can be appreciated from the foregoing description and accompanyingillustrations the present invention has i the advantages of beinginexpensive, extremely versatile in use, aiiording quick and easyassembly and disassembly, is readily changed and/or rearranged topresent a realistic three-dimensional scalar representation of modelconstruction, as well as all of its elements being reuseable for anindefinite number of times.

Since many changes could be made in the above construction and manyapparently widely different embodiments of the invention could be madewithout departing from the scope or spirit thereof, it is intended thatall matter contained in the above description or the accompanyingrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

l. A model construction panel assembly comprising a plurality of hollow,generally rectangular cross-section panels each including two pairs ofopposed side walls, each pair of said opposed side walls being ofidentical dimensions and secured in parallel spaced relationship withthe other pair of opposed side walls, one pair of said opposed sidewalls in each of said plurality of panels having at least one dimensioncommon to one pair of side walls in each panel of said plurality ofpanels, and clip members of resilient material slidingly engagingcontiguous side walls of adjacent panels securing said panels infrictional abutment.

2. A model construction panel assembly comprising a plurality of hollow,generally rectangular cross-section panels, each including first andsecond pairs of opposed side walls, each pair of said opposed side wallsbeing of identical dimensions and xed in parallel spaced relationship bythe other pair of opposed side walls, said rst pair of said opposed sidewalls in each of said plurality of panels having at least one dimensioncommon to all other irst pairs of side walls in all said plurality ofpanels, and said second pairs of opposed side walls having dimensionsselectable in accordance with the desired configuration of said modelassembly and clip members of resilient material slidingly engagingcontiguous side walls of adjacent panels and securing said panels infrictional abutment.

3. A model construction panel assembly, comprising a plurality ofhollow, generally rectangular cross-section panels, each constructed ofa rst pair of opposed side walls of uniform U-shaped cross-sectionsecured to a second pair of side walls havingidentical dimensions, saidpanels being of selectable lengths in accordance with the desiredconfiguration of said model assembly, and clip members of resilientmaterial slidingly engaging contiguous side walls -of adjacent panelssecuring said panels in frictional abutment.

4. A model construction panel assembly comprising a plurality of hollow,generally rectangular cross-section panels each including two pairs ofopposed side walls, each pair of said opposed side walls being ofidentical dimensions and secured in parallel spaced relationship withthe other pair of said opposed side walls, one pair of said opposed sidewalls in each panel having at least one dimension common to one pair ofside walls in each panel of said plurality of panels, said panels beingdimensioned to represent in incremental scale a desired type offull-size wall construction, and clip members of resilient materialslidingly engaging contiguous side walls of adjacent panels securingsaid panels in frictional abutment.

5. A model construction panel assembly comprising a plurality of hollow,generally rectangular cross-section panels each including -two pairs ofopposed side walls, each pair of said opposed side walls being ofidentical dimensions and secured in parallel spaced relationship withthe other pair of said opposed side walls, one pair of said opposed sidewalls in each panel having at least one dimensions comm-on to one pairof side walls in each panel of said plurality of panels, said panelsbeing dimensioned to represent in incremental scale the fullsize Wallconstruction as required by building codes for the type of constructionsaid model is to represent, and clip members of resilient materialslidingly engaging contiguous side walls of adjacent panels securingsaid panels in frictional abutment. l

6. A model construction panel assembly comprising a plurality of hollow,generally rectangular cross-section panels each including two pairs ofopposed side Walls, each pair of said opposed side Walls being ofidentical dimensions and secured in parallel spaced relationship withthe other pair of said opposed side walls, one pair of said opposed sidewalls in each panel having at least one dimension common to a dimensionof one pair of References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS8/1937 Jauch et al. 35-16 X 7/1951 Schwartz 35-16 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO,Primary Examiner.

side walls in each panel of said plurality of panels, and 15 H. S.SKOGQUIST, Assistant Examiner.

1. A MODEL CONSTRUCTION PANEL ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF HOLLOW,GENERALLY RECTANGULAR CROSS-SECTION PANELS EACH INCLUDING TWO PAIRS OFOPPOSED SIDE WALLS, EACH PAIR OF SAID OPPOSED SIDE WALLS BEING OFIDENTICAL DIMENSIONS AND SECURED IN PARALLEL SPACED RELATIONSHIP WITHTHE OTHER PAIR OF OPPOSED SIDE WALLS, ONE PAIR OF SAID OPPOSED SIDEWALLS IN EACH OF SAID PLURALITY OF PANELS HAVING AT LEAST ONE DIMENSIONCOMMON TO ONE PAIR OF SIDE WALLS IN EACH PANEL OF SAID PLURALITY OFPANELS, AND CLIP MEMBERS OF RESILIENT MATERIAL SLIDINGLY ENGAGINGCONTIGUOUS SIDE WALLS OF ADJACENT PANELS SECURING SAID PANELS INFRICTIONAL ABUTMENT.